Happy Birthday, Scott Joplin

Traditionally, November 24, 1868, has been given as the birthday of Scott Joplin, "The King of Ragtime." More recent research suggests that he was actually born in the second half of 1867.

In any event, Joplin blended European classical styles and African American harmonies and rhythm to produce ragtime, a music that, as one critic put it, "expressed the intensity and energy of a modern urban America." While some of Joplin's music (particularly "Maple Leaf Rag") was popular during his lifetime, interest in ragtime waned until its revival in the 1970s, thanks to the efforts of Joshua Rifkin and the use of Joplin's music in the film, "The Sting."

Joplin plays "Maple Leaf Rag" via piano roll here:

In his 101 Best Jazz Albums, Lyons recommends Scott Joplin 1916 (Biograph). Unfortunately, that album is not available in CD or MP3 format. Jim Determan recommends the following alternatives on CD:

• Scott Joplin: The Entertainer (Shout Factory), available from Amazon.com.
• Scott Joplin: Elite Syncopations (Shout Factory), available from Amazon.com.
• Dick Hyman and James Levine: Scott Joplin's Greatest Hits (RCA), available from Amazon.com.
• Richard Zimmerman: Scott Joplin — His Complete Works (Delta), available from Amazon.com.
• Richard Zimmerman: Scott Joplin — His Greatest Hits (Legacy International), available from Amazon.com.
• Joshua Rifkin: Scott Joplin Piano Rags (Nonesuch), available from Amazon.com.

The first two albums listed above contain the six piano rolls from Scott Joplin 1916 that are actually played by Joplin. The Entertainer contains "Maple Leaf Rag," "Something Doing," and "Weeping Willow Rag," while Elite Syncopations contains "Maple Leaf Rag," "Ole Miss Rag" [by W.C. Handy], and "Magnetic Rag."


Robert
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